Work. Travel. Explore.

upupandaways.com

Perhaps the greatest thing I love about my job is that I get paid to learn more about humanity. What people care about, what drives them and the choices they make. When I travel, I often try to explore the city I am communicating to. I will try to discover the neighborhood diner that has 4 stars on yelp, the treasured museum or the historical site that defined the city. On a recent trip to Philadelphia, we found a small restaurant (that may have had only 15 seats). The couple sitting next to us knew the owners by name and lived their entire lives in this city. I find that exploring the restaurants and landmarks of a city help me understand the soul of the people. Philly is proud and I think it is part of it’s history. This city was built by passionate people and their dreams helped to form a nation. We only had 45 minutes to explore, but we visited Constitution Hall and walking through those walls gave us a deep sense of legacy. I was reminded that it takes great courage to dream.

Take the time to explore – even 45 minutes can help inspire you to dream.

Time to get away.

UpUpandAways.com
There are times that I think back to 2 years ago and miss that life and the person I felt I was. I am a mom now. I have a career that is demanding more of my time than ever before. I am STILL going after my masters. I am trying to balance all of this and be a good wife and friend to my incredible husband. A month ago, the moment came where I felt like I just had to get away. To remember what it felt like to be on a vacation. The moment where I forget all the responsibility and just enjoy the moment I am in. Can I do that anymore?

Parenthood is an Adventure. A post from http://www.upupandaways.com

Even though Hawaii was fantastic earlier this year, I never experienced a carefree moment. It might have been the touch of baby blues or the knowledge that my “real” life was still on the other side of the ocean, waiting for me. I am wondering how to relax within a family vacation. Is it possible to feel the sense of freedom and happiness that we used to know in our little get aways? Perhaps it is because I feel a hyper sensitivity to the world around me when M is around. I feel like we are that family, with the loud child, food thrown around the table and the mom looking disheveled, but should I care? For now, we will be the one with the smiling little girl that captures the attention of everyone that passes her. We will be the one that is picking up food off the floor and pushing the table out of reach of grabby hands. We will be the ones that eat quickly and try to enjoy a full cup of coffee. I think the key is that I have to find the joy in the moments of chaos. Travel is an adventure and so is parenthood.

its hoppin in asheville #traveltuesdays

asheville wicked weed brewingDoug is an amateur brewer and on most trips we frequent a brewery and he becomes fast friends with the brew master and they discuss things like gravity, yeast strains and grain contents. Recently, we fell in love with Asheville. This hipster town knows their beer and we stumbled across a brand new brewery. Wicked Weed is a collective of passionate people who love sharing a pint, great tasting beer and an atmosphere that respects the building’s history with an eye for design. We can’t wait to get back to see how they are doing.

away to 2013

A look aheadI took a break from posting for a while, I realized that this place is meant to be an enjoyment for me. A place to write about our adventures and dream about new ones. This past year has been an incredible journey. Becoming a mom in 2011 and trying to find my way with that new role in 2012 was daunting. And I still feel like I am wandering into it. So as I look forward to future trips and talk about past ones, I will also be talking about the journey that is parenthood. So far, I have learned that roadtrips are challenging with a 14 month old but not impossible. Goldfish will be found for years to come in our car and that there is no greater joy than exploring the world with the people you love.

This year I am going to continue to conquering my 30 in the year 30 (I figure it was a little too ambitious to get all of it done in one year so… I am giving myself a few more). We crossed another one off the list with the purchase of an original art piece while on vacation, but that will be in another post. I can’t wait to see what the adventures hold for 2013.

heildberg_project

heidelberg project #traveltuesdays

Located in the heart of Detroit exists a community committed to fueling the creative spirit. Tyree Guyton started the Heildelberg Project with found objects and HBO even documented the city’s protest and destruction of his vision and the evolution of this art experience since then.  Doug and I stumbled across this work of art while exploring Eastern Market one weekend. I heard about this unique Detroit landmark from one of my students at CCS and couldn’t resist seeing such an iconic creative project that serves as a metaphor for the city itself. The two blocks offer a unique, urban point of view on politics, community and the city of Detroit. A full block of houses are covered in everything from stuffed animals to coins. Sculptures grow out of the ground made of discarded doors, wandering shopping carts and painted boards. As an organic element, each summer, towering sunflowers surround the installation and this element always makes me smile. Nothing like starting off the summer with an interesting and educational stay-cation. What places have you explored in your town?